Two men killed after car smashes into packed pub

TWO men were killed and four others seriously injured when their car smashed into a country pub packed with drinkers and diners.

Police barrier at the crash scene yesterday as the pub remained closed [ALBANPIX]

The Citroen was travelling north on the A12 in Suffolk when the driver apparently lost control, knocking down a telegraph pole and a post box before hitting the wall of the White Hart Inn.

The historic pub in Blythburgh was where Prince Charles opened his first “Pub is the Hub” community shop in 2001.

Four of the victims were cut free from the wreckage of the seven-seat vehicle by three crews of firefighters after the crash at 9.30pm on Saturday.

The other two men were declared dead at the scene. Two of the four seriously injured men were airlifted to ­hospital.

One was fighting for his life ­yesterday and the other three were said to be in “stable” conditions.

Police said none of the men were from Suffolk and they were trying to contact their next-of-kin. Officers are also examining the wrecked grey Citroen Berlingo to determine whether the accident was caused by a mechanical fault.

Parish councillor Roderick Orr-Ewing said: “Apparently a car with six young men in it was heading north and it must have been travelling at quite a speed – the driver didn’t make the sharp left-hand bend. Witnesses who arrived after the crash said that some of the victims had been flung clear of the vehicle.

“The first most of us knew about it was the noise of a helicopter overhead, which was the air ambulance arriving.

“It is not the first time there has been an accident there.

“A similar bad crash happened some years ago when a car failed to make the bend and hit the pub.”